The world works in ironic ways.

Joe Lieberman almost became Vice President in 2000.  That would have made him the most senior Jewish executive in the nation’s history.  There have been about 25 Governors, 40 Senators, 100 Representatives, and numerous Cabinet Secretaries, who were Jewish.  But the White House has remained – with the exception of one Catholic – a bastion of Protestantism.

Eight years later, a young senator from Chicago announced he was running for President.  And man did critics have a field day with his credentials:  there was that middle name, “Hussein”; the fact that he had attended school in Indonesia, the most populous Muslim nation in the world; the pastor of his church had delivered sermons condemning Israel; he had called for open talks with Syria and Iran.  It was all so suspicious.  Though he gave numerous speeches declaring his support for Israel, rumors and whispers continued throughout the campaign.

Last April, the Obama campaign checked into the Sheraton Hotel in Harrisburg PA.  Because they could not return home for Passover, ten members of his staff held a Seder in the hotel ballroom.  The senator joined them.  At the end of the ritual, after the traditional, “next year in Jerusalem,” some joked, “next year in the White House.”  It became a sort of promise.

This past Tuesday, President Obama signed a letter wishing Jewish Americans “a peaceful and relaxing holiday.”  And then, with little fanfare, a dinner was added to this week’s presidential schedule.  Last night in the Old Family Dining Room of the White House, President Obama sat down with his wife and children, many of their personal aides and staff members, and a group of friends.  They enjoyed a meal of matzo ball soup, bitter herbs, a roasted egg and greens, prepared by White House chefs after consulting family recipes from several of the participants. The evening also featured a reading of the Haggadah, the religious text of the holiday.

History will show it was the first Passover Seder hosted by a U.S. President.